Police attacked HDP members and MPs in Istanbul

Amed, Van and Mardin municipalities have been seized by the AKP and the HDP excutives and members who wanted to hold a press conference in Taksim Square to protest the decision were attacked by police. Six people have been taken into custody.

ANF

ISTANBUL

Monday, 19 Aug 2019, 17:31

The HDP Istanbul Provincial Organization wanted to hold a press conference in Taksim square, in Istanbul to protest the seizure by the AKP of the municipalities of Amed, Van and Mardin.

However, HDP deputies Musa Piroğlu, Erol Katırcıoğlu and Ahmet Şık, as well as a number of party members, were met with police barriers.

The police said that they would not allow the deputies to make a press statement and started to attack the public. The police took 6 people into custody, all of them HDP party members who had been beaten.

A passer by who criticised the police attitude was also taken into custody.

While other party members were being removed from the square deputies Musa Piroglu, Ahmet Şık and Erol Katırcıoğlu tried to remain in Taksim.

Deputy Musa Piroğlu was surrounded by police. “This is the practice of hatred we felt in the Istanbul elections. - said the HDP deputy - A trustee is appointed to keep the country in the dark."

The deputies were surrounded once again by police in Istiklal Cadedesi and then moved to the HDP party building.

HDP Assembly member Nesimi Aday, HDP Ümraniye Province Co-chair Damla Savcı, HDP Provincial executive Sıtkı Tatlıcı and Vedat Fidan were taken into custody together with two other people whose names were not learned.